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How the mystery of the Bible's greatest story shaped geology: a MacArthur Fellow presents a surprising perspective on Noah's Flood.

In Tibet, geologist David R.
Montgomery heard a local story about a great flood that bore a striking
similarity to Noah’s Flood. Intrigued, Montgomery began investigating the
world’s flood stories and—drawing from historic works by theologians, natural
philosophers, and scientists—discovered the counterintuitive role Noah’s Flood
played in the development of both geology and creationism. Steno, the
grandfather of geology, even invoked the Flood in laying geology’s founding
principles based on his observations of northern Italian landscapes. Centuries
later, the founders of modern creationism based their irrational view of a
global flood on a perceptive critique of geology. With an explorer’s eye and a
refreshing approach to both faith and science, Montgomery takes readers on a
journey across landscapes and cultures. In the process we discover the illusive
nature of truth, whether viewed through the lens of science or religion, and
how it changed through history and continues changing, even today.

Book Details

Hardcover

August 2012

ISBN 978-0-393-08239-5

6.5 × 9.6 in
/ 320 pages

Sales Territory: Worldwide

Other Formats

Endorsements & Reviews

“Examining a wide variety of flood and creation stories across centuries, Montgomery provides an enthusiastic and valuable recounting of the history of geology and how the advances in science have consistently faced opposition from the guardians of so-called religious authority, based on a literal reading of the Bible.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Montgomery... offers a thorough critique of creationist worldviews... while treating his opponents with respect, reflecting on both ancient and modern debates and demonstrating that Christians have been arguing among themselves about these subjects for millennia. ...The combination of historical study and humility on behalf of geology makes for an extremely persuasive work. Highly recommended.” — John M. Kistler, Library Journal